Kernel resource leak via unreleased MDIO node reference
Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026
Resource leak in the Linux kernel 6.13 macb driver allows local administrators to accumulate device-tree node references. On each successful macb_mii_init() probe, of_get_child_by_name() increments the mdio child reference, but the success path omits of_node_put() after macb_mdiobus_register() takes its own reference. Triggering requires repeated successful probes of MACB hardware with an mdio child; the observed consequence is a growing reference-count leak during overlay removal.
Summary
What happened
Resource leak in the Linux kernel 6.13 macb driver allows local administrators to accumulate device-tree node references. On each successful macb_mii_init() probe, of_get_child_by_name() increments the mdio child reference, but the success path omits of_node_put() after macb_mdiobus_register() takes its own reference. Triggering requires repeated successful probes of MACB hardware with an mdio child; the observed consequence is a growing reference-count leak during overlay removal.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-97972
- Published
- Sep 25, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 25, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.13
- Affected versionversion=8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 <382a373d9ea7a6ac4de9c022385b6217f65ae3cc
- Affected versionversion=8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 <5fba30080d298edb742396073372385c961578d3
- Affected versionversion=8a6631f1cece09047fa44608d21d520ca65ce7d8 <7d60dc7ff85b73a2119d582ca2d4456b30960380
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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